Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Friday, 9th August, 2024
1. FG Suspends Plan To Sell ₦40,000 Bags Of Rice To Nigerians
President Bola Tinubu’s led government has put a halt to the initiative aimed at selling subsidized 50kg bags of rice to civil servants at the price of ₦40,000.
Naija News recalls that the federal government had recently said it had created centres across the country where Nigerians could purchase 50kg bags of rice for ₦40,000.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammed Idris, said the plan was one of several initiatives by the President Tinubu administration to ease living conditions for citizens.
A statement earlier in the week through the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs, which was signed by the Director of Human Resources of the Ministry, Jaiyesimi Abimbola, disclosed that all interested public servants were to complete a Google form on the OHCSF website and submit it to the director of human resources for endorsement.
This plan, however, has now been halted, as noted in a communique entitled ‘Withdrawal of Internal Circular on Sale of Subsidized Rice to Public Servants,’ which was signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs (Human Resources Management Department).
Naija News understands that the circular was directed to Directors and Heads of Departments.
2. ‘Let The Media Cover It, We Don’t Care’ – Tinubu’s Minister Disrupts Event In Abuja
The Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, on Thursday, disrupted an event organised by Mela-Chiyoma Pat Limited in Abuja over alleged impersonation of the ministry.
Naija News reports that in a video shared by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), the minister was seen accusing the organizers of impersonation.
According to her, the event, tagged “Unveiling the power of women and food security,” was conveyed in the name of the Ministry of Women Affairs without approval.
She said President Bola Tinubu ordered the cancellation of the event, but the organiser proceeded with it.
Kennedy-Ohanenye added that the Department of State Services (DSS) had taken the event organiser into custody.
3. Apologize To Nigerians For Your Misleading Video – Atiku’s Aide To Presidency
Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Paul Ibe, has called on the Presidency to apologize to Nigerians for the misleading appeal video of President Bola Tinubu posted on his X handle on Wednesday.
Paul Ibe said Nigerians thought President Tinubu showed empathy to their course through the video, only to realize they were misled.
Ibe argued that the controversy from the video showed a lack of coordination among the President’s inner cabinet. He accused the presidency of spreading fake news to citizens and engaging in misinformation.
He added that Tinubu’s administration is deficient in credibility. Ibe said the inefficiency of Tinubu’s media aides, regarding the Wednesday video, explained the reason for the current economic hardship.
4. DSS Denies Raiding NLC National Headquarters
The Department of States Service (DSS) has denied allegations suggesting that its personnel conducted a raid on the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) headquarters in Abuja.
Naija News reports that this statement follows claims made by the NLC on Wednesday, which asserted that secret police operatives had invaded their office and whisked away certain documents.
The union reported that the operatives arrived at the Labour House at approximately 8:30 PM.
The NLC indicated that it could not quickly determine the full extent of items removed from its offices.
Nevertheless, in a statement issued on Thursday, the DSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, clarified that its personnel were not involved in the disruption of the labour union’s office.
“Good morning dear friends. Pls kindly note that the Service (DSS) did not carry out any operation at the NLC office in Abuja,” Afunanya said in a terse statement on the agency’s X handle.
5. FG Lifts Suspension On Arik Air Operations
The Federal Government has lifted the suspension on the operations of local airline, Arik Air.
This comes more than a week after the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, ordered that the operations of the airline be grounded until further notice.
Naija News reported that the decision to ground Arik Airlines follows an order from the enforcement department of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court due to an outstanding debt of $2.5 million by the airline.
Confirming the suspension, the chief executive officer, Arik Air (in Receivership), Roy Ilegbodu, expressed disappointment with the Minister’s decision over the airline.
According to him, grounding the airline’s operations is a devastating blow that would negatively impact the passengers, the company, and the Nigerian economy.
Ilegbodu added that Keyamo’s directive is in violation of court processes and, therefore urged the Minister to reconsider the directive.
In a statement via his social media page on Thursday, the director of public affairs and consumer protection at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Michael Achimugu, said Keyamo gave a directive that the suspension of Arik Air should be lifted.
Achimugu said the conflict has been resolved, and Arik Air has commenced operations immediately.
6. PDP Suspends Senator Suswam, Others Over ‘Insubordination’
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State has suspended the former Governor of the State, Senator Gabriel Suswam, alongside Terngu Tsegba, Richard Gbande, Terseer Tsumba and Professor Nicholas Ada, from the party over insubordination.
Naija News learnt that the party also suspended the chairmen of the party for Apa, Gboko, Gwer-East, Katsina-Ala, Konshisha, Logo, Otukpo and Ukum local government areas.
The state Publicity Secretary of the party, Bemgba Iortyom, in a statement on Wednesday, disclosed that the affected persons were summoned to appear before the State Working Committee (SWC) on Thursday by 10 am on charges of gross misconduct and anti-party activities.
Iortyom said the summon aimed to interact with the invited persons at a preliminary level and possibly avoid the need to take disciplinary action.
7. Nigeria’s Institutions For Democracy Are Weak – Ganduje
The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has said all Nigeria institutions for democracy are weak.
Umar Ganduje said the judiciary, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and the executive need immediate reforms.
The former governor of Kano State said this on Thursday, while speaking on ‘Judiciary’s Role In Democracy Sustainability‘, at the Ist Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) Roundtable, in Abuja, monitored by our reporter.
Ganduje said Nigeria’s judiciary plays important role in the country’s democracy.
He said financial independence and political intervention are some of the challenges facing the third arm of government.
The APC national chairman called on the audience, made up of all political parties leaders, to unite and offer support to the judiciary.
8. Hardship: Tinubu Surrounded By Aides Who Can’t Tell Him The Truth – Dele Momodu
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and publisher of Ovation Magazine, Dele Momodu, has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s inner circle for not being truthful about the dire state of governance in Nigeria.
The PDP chieftain accused President Tinubu’s appointees of misleading Nigerians about the country’s economic condition.
In an interview with Arise TV on Thursday, Momodu alleged that Tinubu’s aides publicly defend the administration while expressing dissatisfaction privately.
The veteran journalist, who backed the #EndBadGovernance movement, lamented the current state of Nigeria, saying, “Nigeria has never had it this bad.”
He offered suggestions on how President Tinubu could address these issues, emphasizing the need for substantial reform rather than superficial gestures.
9. NIS Condemns Officer Begging Money At Airport
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has condemned its officer, Okpravero Ufuoma, who was video-recorded begging for money from an international passenger.
NIS Comptroller General, Kemi Nanna Nandap, stated that Ufuoma’s act at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, did not represent what the service stood for.
In the viral video, Ufuoma was begging the foreign passenger to help him with some money. Even when the passenger insisted he had no cash and offered to buy something for the NIS officer, he was insistent on being given cash.
In a statement on Thursday morning, Nandap disclosed that Ufuoma has been indefinitely suspended pending the outcome of an investigation by a disciplinary committee.
10. NLC Raid: It Will Be Disastrous If You Forget That You Are A Product Of The Trenches – CNPP Warns Tinubu
The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has condemned the alleged raid on the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) headquarters by security operatives.
Speaking via a a statement signed by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, James Ezema, on Thursday, CNPP described the invasion as Gestapo-style operation, insisting that it was a blatant disregard for the principles of democracy and the rule of law.
The organisation urged President Bola Tinubu to call the security agencies involved in this particular act to order.
The CNPP reiterated that they are not advocating for violent agitation or protests, or distribution of inciting materials but decried the attempt to gag citizens or intimidate them into submission.
According to the agency, this approach will only encourage further anarchy and earn more hatred for the Tinubu administration from the people.
The organization therefore called on President Tinubu to respect the rights of citizens, including the NLC, and to focus on addressing the economic and security challenges facing the nation.
That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.
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